House of the Dragon season 2, episodes 1 and 2 recap and review - A bloody civil war

It’s been almost two years since we first dipped our toes back into the fiery world of House of the Dragon, and boy, has it been a wild ride.

Welcome back to Westeros, where the Targaryens rule with dragons and a penchant for complicated family dynamics. Our saga kicks off nearly 200 years before Game of Thrones, with the mighty Targaryen family at the height of their power. King Viserys I Targaryen sits on the Iron Throne, and he's got a big decision to make: who will be his heir?

When King Viserys kicks the bucket, all hell breaks loose. The realm is split between Rhaenyra’s supporters, who believe in her right to rule, and Alicent’s faction, who back her son Aegon II. Cue the Dance of the Dragons—a brutal civil war with dragon-on-dragon combat, backstabbing plots, and epic battles that would make any Westerosi bard sing for centuries. Throughout the chaos, we witness epic dragon duels, shocking betrayals, and the heartbreaking cost of ambition. Friends become foes, families are torn apart, and the Targaryen dynasty is forever changed. The Dance of the Dragons is a fiery tale of power, loyalty, and the perilous path to the Iron Throne.

So, whether you’re Team Rhaenyra or wrong - I mean, Team Aegon - House of the Dragon promises a thrilling journey through the annals of Targaryen history. Let's dive into the epic first two episodes of the second season of House of the Dragon, shall we?

SPOILER WARNING: I will be spoiling everything that happens in these two episodes. Read at your own risk.

Episode 1, "Son for a Son" recap and review

We start just days after the heartbreaking finale of season 1. King Viserys Targaryen is dead (RIP), and the scheming council has placed Aegon II on the Iron Throne, totally ignoring the king’s chosen heir, Rhaenyra. Drama, drama, drama! Alicent Hightower thinks she’s fulfilling Viserys’ last wish by backing Aegon, but it’s clear things are about to get messier than a dragon BBQ.

First up, we see Jacaerys (aka “Jace”) flying north to Winterfell. Yep, the Starks are back, and Winter is coming! Cregan Stark pledges his support to Rhaenyra, adding some serious muscle to her cause. But Jace’s joy is short-lived when he learns about his brother Lucerys’ murder by Wish.com Daemon, a.k.a. his uncle Aemond Targaryen. Time for some icy revenge, perhaps? Back at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is in deep mourning. Daemon is ready to storm King’s Landing, but cooler heads (and dragons) prevail. Rhaenys, the fierce dragon rider, holds him back, reminding him that acting on grief isn’t the smartest move. Rhaenyra finds Lucerys’ torn clothes and a dragon wing, making the loss even more gut-wrenching. Daemon, however, is all about “an eye for an eye", or rather, a son for a son.

Meanwhile, Rhaenys and her sea-savvy Lord Husband, Corlys Velaryon, hold a naval blockade. Corlys is recovering from an off-screen pirate battle (classic Westeros) and is gifted a sword hilt meant for Lucerys by his savior, Alyn. Remember the drama with Corlys’ brother, Vaemond? Yep, it’s all coming back. Over in King’s Landing, Aegon II is struggling with his newfound power. He wants his son, Jaehaerys, to join the council meetings, but the little dude is more interested in playing with the mysterious stone marbles. Aegon’s itching for war, but his council warns him to stay put. Plus, we get a glimpse of his sinister sidekick, Larys Strong, who’s up to no good, as usual. Turns out he's employed his own people to surround Alicent, who fells so uncomfortable that she proceeds to try and rub her skin off in the bath. Or could it be the grossness of sleeping with Ser Criston Cole, a.k.a. Crispy Cole finally catching up with her?

And now for the shocker: Daemon hires two creepy assassins, Blood and Cheese (yes, like the food), to avenge Lucerys’ death. These guys are bad news and make their way into the Red Keep. In a much more toned-down version than its source material (thank goodness), the pair brutally murder young Jaehaerys in his sleep, leaving Queen Helaena shattered. As she makes it to Alicent's room, in her grief, she catches her in the act with Crispy Cole. Helaena doesn't get traumatized once, but TWICE. The poor girl!

As the episode wraps up, we’re left with the grim reality that war is inevitable. The lines are drawn, sides are chosen, and the stakes are higher than ever. With compelling characters, tighter pacing, and jaw-dropping twists, season 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable ride.

Episode 2 recap and review

Following the jaw-dropping beheading of young Jaehaerys, House of the Dragon cranks up the heat and drama. What happens when you steal someone’s inheritance and kill her son? Absolute chaos, that’s what.

We kick off with Helaena (the incredibly talented Phia Saban), who delivers a gut-wrenching performance at her son's funeral. Despite begging to stay away, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) forces her to attend, making her heartbreakingly devastated and eerily detached. Speaking of Alicent, Alicent and Ser Crispy Cole are both reeling from Jaehaerys’s death, which, by the way, happened while Criston was in bed with Alicent - let us be like the North and not forget. Their affair is an open secret, and now Lord Larys is having a field day threatening them. Their tension is practically sizzling.

Over in Team Black’s camp, Rhaenyra and Daemon are at each other’s throats. Rhaenyra’s livid, and with a perfectly solid reason as he got a freaking child killed, going as far as blaming Daemon’s hot-headedness for her son's death. Daemon, being Daemon, insists he was just avenging his wife’s loss, not intending to spark an all-out war. But come on, Daemon, when do your plans ever go smoothly?

House Green blames Rhaenyra for Jaehaerys’s death, painting a target on her back. The scheming is in full swing as everyone plots their next move. The drama is deliciously thick, and Ser Crispy is starting to forget who he is and isn't, demanding Ser Arryk to pretend to be his "traitorous" twin, Erryk, and infiltrate Dragonstone and kill Rhaenyra. Who do you think you are, Crispy?! He'll forever be the most disgusting hypocrite I'll ever see on a TV show, and I hate him.

The highlight? Other than Otto Hightower being demoted from Hand of the King (haha, except not haha because now, Ser Crispy is it), it's the brutal, no-holds-barred sword fight between twin brothers. It’s bloody, intense, and leaves you on the edge of your seat wondering who’s walking away alive. In a sad scene to witness, Arryk and Erryk fight each other to the death, being caught in the middle of this civil war. As a mother of twins myself, it was heartbreaking to watch it, but I have to admit I giggled when the gold cloak asked out loud which twin was which - welcome to identical twins, I understand the struggle.

Now, here's a plot twist: Aemond, my favorite war criminal, is slowly showing there's much more to him than meets the eye (pun intended). Despite his seemingly accidental kill of Lucerys last season (still not over it), he’s stealing scenes and adding layers to his character.

We also see Rhaenyra and Mysaria somewhat see eye to eye as Rhaenyra frees her after being promised by Daemon, who decided to take off and not return, she would be. Their dynamic and interactions were a delight to witness, and we see Rhaenyra is truly lost in what's really going on behind the curtains.

Episode 2 is packed with tension, drama, and action, making it clear that House of the Dragon isn’t pulling any punches this season. Don't forget to tune in to Max next Sunday, June 30th, for the next episode of this exciting second season.